Virginia Hokies

August 28, 2007|By NORM WOOD Daily Press

THE 2007 SCHEDULE

Looking ahead to the season, we give you comments from our expert, Norm Wood, and someone just like you, superfan Mark Edwards, a 1984 Tech graduate and Senior Vice President/Broker of East West Realty in Suffolk

SEPT. 1

East Carolina

Our thoughts

Lane Stadium will be at its loudest when Tech runs out of the tunnel for the first time. Tech 38, ECU 7

Your thoughts

The pre-game will be emotional, and so will the game. Tech 35, ECU 10.

SEPT. 8

at LSU

Our thoughts

Tech's best chance to prove it can hang with the elite, but ... LSU 17-10.

Your thoughts

One of the best Saturday night atmospheres. Blacksburg owns Thursday nights.

Tech 17-16

SEPT. 15

Ohio

Our thoughts

Catch your breath, Hokie fans. Back-to-back cupcakes

Tech 45-7.

Your thoughts

You can hear Beamer now, "Those boys from Ohio can really get after ya..."

Tech 37-0.

SEPT. 22

W & M

Our thoughts

Will Beamer and Laycock still be friends after this?

Tech 480.

Your thoughts

Beamer typically runs the clock out against his friends, but style point count with pollsters.

Tech 62, 0.

SEPT. 29

N. Carolina

Our thoughts

New UNC coach Butch Davis picks up where Bunting left off; another blowout loss to Tech.

It'll be huge because both teams will likely have at least one loss by this point.

Tech 23, 16.

Your thoughts

Tech will be favored, but there's no easy win at Clemson.

Tech 21 -17

OCT. 13

at Duke

Our thoughts

Forget the library. The quietest place on fall Saturdays at Duke is Wallace-Wade Stadium.

Tech 33-0.

Your thoughts

"Just-like-basketball..." clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.

Tech 41-0.

OCT. 25 Boston College

Our thoughts

BC has won two of the last three, but the Hokies prevail

.

Tech 28-7.

Your thoughts

"Enter Sandman" never sounded so good as Tech erase last year's loss.

Tech 24-13.

NOV. 1

at Georgia Tech

Our thoughts

Another Thursday night game, and the Hokies' winning streak ends at five

Ga. Tech 24-23.

Your thoughts

This team is Chan Gailey's most talented.

Ga. Tech 20-17.

NOV. 10

Florida State

Our thoughts

Beamer ends his 0-fer streak Bowden.

Tech 20 -14.

Your thoughts

Bowden won't have his best friend (official Childress) working this game like in 31, Tech 31-17

NOV. 17

Miami

Our thoughts

D the key with Miami coach Randy Shannon and Tech coordinator Foster.

Tech 17-13.

Your thoughts

Lots of double-TE formations as Tech tries to slow down DE Campbell.

Tech 19-16.

Nov. 24

at Virginia

Our thoughts

Tech wins its fourth consecutive game (and eighth in the last nine meetings) in this "rivalry."

Tech 34-20.

Your thoughts

Hokie fans flood dontfireal groh.com after this.

Tech 2410.

We say Tech will finish the regular season 10-2. You say Tech will finish the regular season 11-1. To give your prediction, visit dailypress.com/techtalk

THE GREAT YEAR, THE BAD YEAR, THE REALITY

If "the great year" is ever going to be within coach Frank Beamer's reach, this year just might be it. Wins at LSU, at Clemson, at Georgia Tech and against Florida State -- and no slips -- would silence critics who bash Tech for usually playing a soft schedule.

The Bad Year: Injuries to RB Branden Ore or LBs Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall cou be devastating. Road games at LSU, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Virginia will test the Hokies.

The Reality: Fans will be primed for the emotional Sept. 1 game, but a Louisiana Saturday night will be the most critical evening of the year. A loss wouldn't be the end of the world; it's still early. But a win could propel the Hokies into the top five. LSU and Georgia Tech are the only opponents that have equal abillity as the Hokies.

THE LOOK BACK

2006 RESULTS | 10-3 (6-2)

Northeastern won, 38-0

at North Carolina won, 35-10

Duke won, 36-0

Cincinnati won, 29-13

Georgia lost, 38-27

at Boston College lost, 22-3

Southern Miss won, 36-6

Clemson won, 24-7

at Miami won, 17-10

Kent State won, 23-0

at Wake Forest won, 27-6

Virginia won17-0

vs. Georgia Lost 31-24

THE HIGHLIGHT

Victories against North Carolina and N.C. State give the Vacs their only back-to-back wins.

THE LOWLIGHT

U.Va. falls at home to Western Michigan, sending the Scott Stadium crowd home stunned.

RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS

Player Att Yds Avg TD

Ore 241 1,137 4.7 16

K. Lewis 54 215 4.0 2

Passing

Player C-A-I Yds TD

Glennon 170-302-11 2,191 11

Whitaker 10-16-0 119 1

Receiving

Player No. Yds Avg TD

Morgan 33 448 13.6 4

Royal 31 497 16.0 3

FIVE KEYS TO THE SEASON

OFFENSIVE LINE STABILITY

Left tackle Duane Brown and right guard Sergio Render are All-ACC caliber players, but the other three line positions are shaky. In mid-August, six of Tech's top 10 linemen on the two-deep were freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores. While Ryan Shuman looks ready to take over at center, the potential for disaster exists at left guard (Shuman's old position) and right tackle if some depth doesn't develop.